To think Londoners are v unfriendly

[maggieryan]

I've moved over from Ireland to London. Big move and im very happy with my decision BUT finding people so unfriendly. Walk into a.shop and try to have a bit of chit chat and nothing., I tried talking to neighbours and barely any response.. Taximen barely speak where as in Dublin you cant shut them up.im not unlikable, plenty of friends and loads of family but maybe im just used to Dublin. Im only finding my feet so I probably need to give it time??

[paganmolloy]

Weegies seem to do it to show off their patter

Aye right!!!! What a load of rubbish. So talking to folk is show-offy not friendly? Utter pish!

[Liiinoo]

I'm London born and bred. I don't think Londoners are unfriendly but on the whole we don't chat to strangers. I think it is because there are too many of them here! I smile and say please and thank you in shops but not often much more than that.

by contrast we have a holiday home in Ireland and I am constantly impressed at how chatty and friendly everyone is there (except for Dublin!). Every little interaction involves conversation and last weekend I was in Manchester where I experienced the same thing. It was all very nice but TBH I was happy to go up to London today and not have to make conversation with everyone I came into contact with. Sometimes anonymity can be very relaxing.

[pringlecat]

Just googled it. Hailo is Mytaxi these days! Shows how often I use it...

I prefer Addison Lee because you fix rates in advance and I generally only get a taxi for personal use when I'm travelling home (which is far enough to not want a variable rate). I always get a black cab on business though.

[Davros]

If you use Mytaxi it's just as convenient to book a black cab

[pringlecat]

Have any of you tried Addison Lee or Hailo?

I use Addison Lee because it's convenient to book in the same way Uber is, but you fix the price in advance, there's none of these bleeding surge nonsense, the drivers are super professional, the cars lovely, and I haven't read any reports about their drivers being dodgy.

Where possible, I will just jump in a black cab though. Proper cabbies have an unrivalled knowledge of the city and are fab at thinking of a Plan B if there is an accident or roadworks etc - they know all the little shortcuts and alternative routes. Other drivers are totally reliant on GPS.

[Davros]

In London, black cabs are SO much better than Uber. But we are lucky enough to have the choice so if we see some out of Towner or foreigner looking like they want to chat, we can jump in one and blast you with exhaust fumes

[mirialis]

Liverpool is a very chatty city, as is Glasgow, but with the weegies seem to do it out of nosiness and to show off their patter rather than a genuine desire to be friendly

ha ha more of this sort of intercity chat please, rather than lazy slagging off of Londoners.

I have actually worked in both Liverpool and Glasgow and found them both very friendly to me as a Londoner in contrast to Mancs. Didn't know the Glaswegians were just doing it to show off their patter... wow, mind changed.

[5rivers7hills]

You can't beat a black cab sometimes tho - step out onto the street, straight into a cab and off your go.

[5rivers7hills]

Although I did have a pretty strang uber ride home where the driver was telling me about the big conspiracy and how Russia is the only good super power and how it's all just propaganda and lies. Was interesting but also slightly scary at he same time!

[5rivers7hills]

Most women I know in RL would never get in an ube

Conversely I don't know any women who have issues with getting an uber.

Seriously, if you want to rape women there are MUCH easier and safer ways to go about it than becoming an uber driver!

We generally "share my ride" so that you can see where you friend is on their journey home and who has picked them up. If anything happened it would be pretty easy to find the perpetrator.

[BoysofMelody]

Liverpool is a very chatty city, as is Glasgow, but with the weegies seem to do it out of nosiness and to show off their patter rather than a genuine desire to be friendly.

[Boulshired]

In my northern hometown if at a bus stop there is usually a 90% chance I went to school with someone they know. People leave not many come in.

[Achoopichu]

In the north,where it's not quite so busy, it's easier to form a bond at a bus stop etc

[Achoopichu]

Well whenever I've been to London and asked for directions I've never found a Londoner - just tourists

And they never seem to know directions as they only know their own tube in

Can understand the tube - better not to catch anyone's eye

I think I it's just the volume of tourists - Londoners are very sociable with ppl they know?

On a train I've talked to posh Londoners who were absolutely lovely.

I think on balance they're ok

[cuirderussie]

Sillywitch no, not exceptional I reckon - friendliness in Ireland can be quite superficial and newcomers often find it hard to break into established cliques. I'm a Dubliner and I don't find them particularly friendly.

[sillywitch]

I lived in Dublin and yes, everyone was very friendly on the street, shops etc. I worked in an office with about 40 people and different groups in the business had cliquey drinks after work and in the year I worked there was never invited (I was permanent, not a temp). They were nice enough and do think it was exception to the rule.

[sillywitch]

I get a mini cab to the airport from Greater London every summer for the past five years. With the exception of the year, I have had the 'UKIP' convo from the driver (so fours different drivers). Awkward to say the least as I am not British.

[JessieMcJessie]

surferjet

JessieMcJessie

Would you have this attitude if the accusations were against black cab drivers? Hmmm...

Yes, of course.

[Bunbunbunny]

Surprised by the UKIP rants, life long londener and I've never had one! I always chat to the drivers, uber black cab Addison Lee all the same really. London is friendly just need to find the right places to go for a chat, might take a bit of time but it is a friendly place

[RidingWindhorses]

Don't use black cabs then

A bit OTT. The odd UKIP rant doesn't put me off black cabs. I've had far worse from mini cab drivers.

I've only had one Uber ride so I can't comment - my complaint with Uber is that you have to wait too long for them, it's often quicker to get a black cab and they aren't necessarily cheaper.

[surferjet]

JessieMcJessie

Would you have this attitude if the accusations were against black cab drivers? Hmmm...
You seem extremely keen to paint uber drivers as above reproach, despite the evidence.
Well you carry on sweetie. Most women I know in RL would never get in an uber. What you do is entirely up to you.

[JessieMcJessie]

surferjet

1. So just because they were accused means they were all guilty eh? Dangerous thinking there.
   

2. 32 is a tiny tiny percentage of all the uber drivers in London.

[IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece]

I live in N London use a black cab at least once a week for the past 3y and not once, not even during brexit, have I ever had a racist, ukip rant...cyclist rant sure, other driver rant sure but not a racist one.

And I've had someone amazingly helpful and kind Uber drivers. As far as I'm concerned they both have their place in london

[Davros]

I've never had a Ukip rant form a black cabbie but I have had one very recently come back to find DH who left his phone in his cab. I've also had them help with luggage, shopping, wait to make sure I'm in etc

[mirialis]

No one's forcing you to use black cabs!

Sure, and I've already said that I choose them over Uber.

Still get a UKIP rant out of them, though and I'm surprised that other regular London black cab users have not had this experience.